Buffalo Bills News - December 24, 2001

Monday billboard [9:10 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'But there couldn't have been more than 30,000 fans in attendance, and a good number of those seemed to be transplants rooting for Buffalo.'

Airing it out [9:09 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Biggest passing days for a quarterback vs. Bills with date and yards..".

Bills given parting kick [6:00 AM]D and C reports:
'The Bills allowed 487 yards of total offense to the Falcons, committed 12 penalties for 95 yards, Van Pelt's throwing was erratic, there were dropped passes, blown defensive assignments and coverages, lack of a pass rush, and some questionable coaching decisions.'

Players, coaches both to blame [5:59 AM]D and C reports:
'The players made their share of blunders in this game, but the coaching staff did its part, too.'

Bills' Bryson shines in Atlanta before his hometown fan club [5:58 AM]D and C reports:
'Hard-working relatives, friends and neighbors from Franklin, N.C., who made the two-hour trip to the Georgia Dome once they heard their native son would be starting at running back for the Buffalo Bills against the Atlanta Falcons.'

Report card [5:57 AM]D and C reports:
'Coaching: Team was far from mentally sharp, committing 12 penalties, the most in 11 games. Decision to go for two points after going ahead 20-16 was the wrong one. Decision to squib kick the last kickoff also backfired. Decision to make Chris Chandler look like Dan Marino also a bad one. Add it up and it equals 2-12. F'

52-yard field goal does the trick for Falcons [5:56 AM]Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:
'"At the coin toss, Chandler looked a little pale," said Bills defensive end Phil Hansen, whose team had just one sack. "He said, 'Hey, man, I'm sick; take it easy on me.' I laughed, and went back and told the whole defense to get after Chandler; he's sick. Then, he turns around and sets a record for yards."'

A feel-good kick for rookie Feely [5:55 AM]Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:
'The Bills elected to squib kick instead of kick deep after tying the score with 48 seconds left, so the Falcons started the last possession at their 43.'

Smith: 'I'll always be here supporting the Falcons' [5:53 AM]Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:
'Sunday's dramatic win over the Buffalo Bills not only was the Falcons' final home game of the year, but also the final home game for Smith as team president.'

Straight talk from the game [5:51 AM]Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:
'The Falcons converted nine of 14 third downs, and running back Rodney Thomas finally got a chance to pitch in and rushed for 41 yards, just enough to keep Buffalo honest.'

Bucs, Ravens, Eagles on track; Falcons need help [5:49 AM]Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:
'The Falcons almost certainly need to win their final games against Miami and St. Louis, and for the Bucs to lose to Baltimore Saturday and Philadelphia next week. Even then, what the Saints and Giants do might still keep them home for the postseason.'

McCord records hit of the game [5:48 AM]Atlanta Journal Constitution reports:
'The officiating crew of referee Larry Nemmers had a bad day. They failed to nullify Buffalo's game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarter, when the Bills were in an illegal formation and appeared to snap the ball after the play clock had run out.'

No place like home [5:45 AM]Marietta Daily Journal reports:
'"I just wanted a chance, just an opportunity," said Feely, who was a perfect 4-for-4 in field goal opportunities Sunday. "There's nothing else going through your mind when you're out there. You just want to be fundamentally sound."'

December 23, 2001

Feely's field goal gives Atlanta 33-30 win over Buffalo [10:00 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
"I thought that today's game had the potential to be a track-meet type game," Williams said of a game that ended up with 885 yards total offense. "I thought that the guys did a great job fighting all the way down to the end. We just didn't make enough plays at the end and our penalties hurt us."

Falcons 33, Bills 30 [5:00 PM]AP reports:
'Before Sunday, Feely was 11-for-18 at the Georgia Dome and 12-for-12 on the road. The game-winner was his second-longest kick of the season; he had a 55-yarder at Arizona.'

Atlanta 33, Buffalo 30 [4:58 PM]Sportsticker reports:
'Chris Chandler set a club record with a career-high 432 passing yards, and rookie Jay Feely made it an especially memorable day for the Atlanta Falcons.'

Taking another look at the merits of instant replay [9:24 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"I've been against this from the beginning," the Buffalo Bills' general manager said. "I don't like it. I think it takes the human element out of the game, which I think is part of sports."'

Vick accepts his role as backup quarterback [9:22 AM]Augusta Chronicle reports:
'Vick, the first overall pick of last year's draft and considered the team's quarterback of the future, likely will spend most of today's game against the Buffalo Bills watching from the sidelines as 14-year veteran Chris Chandler continues his role as quarterback of the present.'

Another chance for Bills' Bryson [6:26 AM]D and C reports:
'"It's been real tough going from playing a lot to not playing hardly at all," Bryson said. "But I'm just glad I'm in a position to help the team any way that I can."'

Q&A with Raion Hill [6:25 AM]D and C reports:
'[Q:] The man you replaced, Henry Jones, started for 10 seasons and was among the NFL's best-ever strong safeties and one of the Bills' most popular players. How did Henry help you? [A:] ''I learned a ton from Henry, not only how to play on the field but how to act off the field, because he was a good person. He had a good reputation, a guy who handled himself like a true professional and I admired that a lot.'''